Living in Consciousness ~ Indi(r)a's Weblog of Bhakthi, Bhukthi and Bhoomi

Every kitchen garden needs a healthy combination of both herbs and vegetable plants, and nothing beautifies the homestead like flowers. Cilantro is a great annual herb with memorable fragrance, flavor, and flowers. This old-time herb sprouts from coriander seeds, grows compact, flowers prolifically, sets seed gladly and reseeds with ease, offering a perpetual, perennial-like performance in the kitchen garden. The whole cilantro plant, from fresh leaves, flowers, root to seeds have valuable roles in the kitchen and many culinary uses.

I noticed that cilantro loves warm and humid Houston weather. I let my cilantro bloom this spring and then fruit. When seeds are plump, I removed the plants and arranged them in a flower vase to air-dry. They made a beautiful arrangement and filled the home with wonderful coriander fragrance. It makes me happy to think that in about a week when they are dried, I could harvest home-grown coriander seeds.

Lovely Indira,
I am just admiring the first pic with all the fresh Cilantro. I just love Cilantro. You know more about Seattle than I do, it is difficult to grow them outdoors so I grow them in small pot in my kitchen.

Hi Indra, I always visit your blog once a week to get new recipes and inspiration I’ve just started growing my own little herb garden (in pots, since i live in an apt.) Can you grow cilantro and methi from the normal seeds that we use for cooking and do they need direct sun light? It would be great if you could advice me on this. Thanks in advance.

I just have a bunch growing in my back yard. The rains in San diego has made them spread all over. I just love to go grab a bunch and add to my rasam or any other dish. the aroma from the fresh ones are out of this world.

You can grow them from the seeds we use in cooking. I did that many times.
But when u use fertilizer u need to check whether the fertilizer is for increasing the blooms or for increasing the foliage based upon ur requirement (more seeds or leaves).

Lavanya and Sudha: I always plant our regular, Indian grocery dhania and methi seeds. But before planting, I soak the seeds in water for a day or two for easy germination. It works. They do need some direct sunlight for healthy growth.
Goodluck with your herb gardens.

Cilantro: Dhania does well in containers. Love the amma’s rasam recipe you have posted at Cilantro.

Aparna: Herbs are hardy plants and they generally do not need any fertilizer, particularly for cilantro. Cilantro bolts with profuse blooms whenever there is increase in the temperature and also during summer months. Cold months usually produce less flowers and more fresh leaves.